Clam-shell bucket.



. PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908. A. RUETSUHI.

' CLAM SHELL BUCKET.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8. 1007.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES 771 a? 65 (R OQHLQL PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908.

A. BUETSGHI. GLAM SHELL BUCKET. urmourox FILED mm a. 1907.

' s SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W I NESSES %ay (5 f GQVCLUL.

No. 882,84A.v PATENTED MARQ24, 1908.

A. RUETSGHI.

CLAM SHELL BUCKET.

' urmonxox 111.21) mm: a. 1007. v

3 SHEETS-BEBE! 3.

ARNOLD RUETSCHI, OF CLEVELAND, onIo.

(mm-sum. nucma'r.

Specification 0! Letters Patent.

Application and June a, 1907. saw No. swam.

Patented Karen 24, 190s.

To all whom it may concern:

' *Be it known that I, ARNOLD RUErscHI, citizen of the United States, resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, .have invented a newand useful Improvement in Clam-Shell Buckets,- of which the following is a s ecification, the principle of the invention ein herein exp ained and the best mode in WlllGll I have contemplated fplying that principle, so as to distinguish om other inventions.

My invention relates to clam shell buckets its object being to provide a bucket that will be economical in construction and at the same time powerful and eflective in its operation, with a minimum expenditure of eny- A further object is to provide a bucket construction whereby an additional reach of scoop members is attained.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, said invention consists of the means hereinafter-fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawin s; Figurel is a side elevation of-one form ofbucket embodying my several irn rovements, said bucket being shown in its 0 osedposition; Fi 2 is an.

end elevation of the same, partly in e evation and part1 in-cross section, the bucket being likewise s own in closed position; Fig. 3 is a side elevation corresponding with Fig. 1, but I showing thebucket 111 its open position; Fig.

4 is a side elevation of the bucketshowing a slightly modified form of construction; and

. 'Fig. 5 is an end elevation, also of such modified form. I

Referring first of all "to the form of the bucket illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 inclusive, the frame of my bucket will be seen to comprise two side, or lateral, members A of substantially triangular form, Figs' 1' and 3 the upper corners of which are, joined byia transverse .bar A, Corresponding lower corners of said two triangular side members are likewise joined by transversely disposed shafts A that are designed to be fixedly held in such members. -A vertical guide a, .consisting simply of a rectangular bar, joins the ends of cross bar A with the corresponding frames A, respectively. I Slidably mounted between the two guides thus provided is a cross-head a, Figs. 2 and 5 that is designed to have arange of movement on such guides practically co-extensive with their len th, or in other words, with the height of the rame. Rollers a, in such cross head reduce the friction that might otherwise tend to interfere with freedom of movement on the part ofthe cross-head. I

Oscillatorily mounted on each of shafts A are two oppositely disposed bell cranks B, to the lower arms I) of which are pivotally hung the outer ends of two scoop members B B. The inner ends of such scoop members are connected by means of links I) b with cross head a vertically slidable as aforesaid in the bucket frame. Other links I) join the upper arms I) of bell cranks B with links if, respectively. The weight of the oscillatorily hung horizontally disposed bases of triangular scoopsB is designed to normally cause, the

latter to swing open, drawing thereby cross head a, downwardly so that the same occupies its lowermostposition as shown in Fig. 3. To draw such cross head upwardly between the guide ways a a suitable operating cable is required. The mannerof connection of this cable will depend upon whether it is desired to operate the bucket as a (1011'- ble-line. or a single-line bucket. In the first case, for use as a double-line bucket, cross bar A will be sus ended from the derrick boom, or an e uiva ent support, by means of a holding cab e G secured at one end to a clevis c, or the like, attached to crossbar A,

.and secured'at theother end to a winding drum. The operating cable G, connected with another, drum of the hoisting engine, is

cross bar A around a sheave c? in the cross head then around a sheavec in the cross bar and again around a second sheave c in the cross-head to a point c of attachment in the cross bar.. The mode of o eration of the" conducted downwardly by a pulley c m such about a fixedpivotal axis but bell cranks B are positively rocked at the same time so that the inner ends of the bucket are swung upwardly and together. In other words such scoop members are moved bodily thus giving a real shoveling action with attendant mcrease in eflicient application of power.

The arrangement of cable and sheaves where it is desired to operate the bucket with a single line is shown, in connection with the modified form of the bucket constructlon illustrated in Figs 4 and 5.. While the mode of line connection referred to may be incorporated in either form of bucket, it may be well first to describe the other modifications here introduced. These consist in the substitution for fixed shafts A of rock shafts A upon which lever arms I)", corresponding with lower bell crank arms I), are fixedly mounted. In place of the two upper bell crank arms I)", a single upwardly extending lever arm I) is necessary and this, by way of variation is.shown as being connected by link 6 directly to the cross-head 0 instead of to links 12 The operation and action of the scoop members in this modified form of bucket construction, it will be evident from the foregoing, departs in no wise from that of the previously described form. It will hence be understood that wherever I emplo the term bell crank in this specification or the following claims, said term is mean equally to apply to this clearlyequivalent structure. i

Reverting finally to the single-line cable! connection for the bucket it will be seen} Figs. 4 and 5, that both ends of the line C pass upwardly from the bucket. Of these ends the one is des' ed to be affixed to the end of the derrick oom, or other point of suspension of the bucket, the other end being connected with a suitable winding drum as in the case of both the. cables of the doubleline arrangement. Such connections, being well known, have not been illustrated. The

looped portion of the cable C is passed two or more times around sheaves c and c therefor provided in cross head a, and crossbar A. Such cable can accordingly be employ'ed both to close-the bucket and to raise the same when closed, dumping of the bucket being effected by engaging clevis c with a hook at the lower end of a fixed depending cable. To retain the scoop-members of the bucket in their open "positions pending the lowering of the latter again, it becomes necessary to employ some form of latch. This consists preferably of aspring catch a mounted upon the inner face of one of guides 12 and adapted -to an age and hold the crosshead a when in its lowermost position correspon with the open state of the bucket. is designed to be just strong enough to hold the parts in such open position against their own weight, but not when the operating cable is drawn in to forcibly close the same.

ceases It should be added by way of conclusion that the adoption of'a power sheave with actuating cable for drawing cross head ,a/ upwardly, instead of the several arrangements of sheaves here shown, is also contemplatedand is thought to be sufficiently obvious in its application not to require separate illustration.

Other modes of a plying the rinciple of my invention may be em loyed instead of the one explained, change being made as r gards the mechanism herein disclosed, rovided the means stated b any of the fol owing claims or the equiva ent of such stated means be employed.

tinctly claim as my invention 1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame; a cross-head vertically movable in said frame; scoop ends to said frame; and links connecting the inner ends of said scoop members with said cross-head. I

-2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame; a cross head vertically movable in said frame; arms oscillatorily mounted in said frame on either side of attached at their outer ends to said arms; and links connecting the inner ends of said scoop members with said cross-head.

3.- In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame; a cross head Vertically movable in said frame; arms oscillatorily mounted in said frame on either side of said cross-head; scoop members pivaptally attached at their outer ends to said arms; links connecting the inner ends of said scoop members with said cross-head; and means for positively rocking said arms.

4. In a device of the character described,

tically movable in said frame; arms oscillatorily mounted in said frame on either side of said cross-head; scoop members ivotall attached at their outer ends to sai arms; inks bers with said cross-head; and means connecting said arms with said cross-head whereby, the former are positively ro'cked upon movement of the latter,

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame; a cross-head vers oscillatorily mounted in said frame on either side of said cross-head; scoop members pivotally attached at their outer ends to the lower arms of said bell cranks, respectively; and links connecting the inner ends of said scoops and the upper arms of said bell-cranks with said cross-head.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame; a cross-head vertically movable in-said frame; bell-cranks I therefore particularly point out and dis-- members pivotally attached at their outer the combination of a frame a cross head verconnecting the inner ends of said scoop memtically movable in said frame; bell-cranks said cross-head; scoop members pivotally i oscillatorily mounted in said frame on either side of said cross-head; scoop members pivotally attached at their outer ends to the lower arms of said bell-cranks respectively;

. vertically disposed guides; a cross-head mov able between said guides; oppositely disposed bell-cranks oscillatorily mounted said frame on either side of said cross-head;

two scoop members pivotally attached at their outer ends to thelower arms of said bell-cranks, res ectively; links connecting the inner end ol said scoop members with said cross-head; and other links connecting the upper arms of said bell-cranks with the lower ortions of said first named links.

8. 'n a device of the character described, the combination of a frame comprising two lateral members of substantially'triangular outline, a bar joinin the upper corners of said members, and two SiflftS respectively joining the lower corners of the same; vertical; guides in said lateral frame members; a cross-head slidably mounted between said guides; bellcranks oscillatorily mounted upon said shafts respectively; two scoop members ivotally attached at their outer ends to t e lower arms of said bell-cranks, respectively; links connecting the inner end of said scoo members with said cross-head; other lin s connecting the upper arms of said bell-cranks with the lower portions of said first named links; sheaves mounted in'the bar of said frame and in said cross-head, respectively;

and an actuating cable passing around said sheaves for'drawing the latter towards the I former.

Signed by me this 31st day of May, 1907.

ARNOLD RUETSCHI.

Attested by MARY ISRAEL; JNO. F. OBERLIN. 

